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UK minister resigns to join rebellion over replacing Trident

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

London, March 12, IRNA
UK Resignations-Nuclear Arms
Deputy leader of the House of Commons Nigel Griffiths confirmed Monday that he was resigning from the government because he could not support Wednesday's parliamentary vote to approve the replacement of the country's Trident nuclear missiles.

"I'm resigning with a heavy heart but a clear conscience," Griffiths said in a statement, but added that he intended to make a personal statement in parliament to further explain his reasons.

The deputy leader is the first of a series of junior ministers expected to resign from their government posts in protest against Prime Minister Tony Blair's controversial plans to build a new generation of nuclear weapons with the help of the US.

Reports over the weekend said that Jim Devine was preparing to step down as parliamentary private secretary (PPS) to Health Minister Rosie Winterton as was Stephen Pound as PPS to chair of the ruling Labour Party, Hazel Blears.

The resignations are seen highlighting the extent of an expected rebellion by backbench members of the ruling Labour Party. A BBC poll on Sunday found that out of the 101 Labour MPs, only 22 said they supported the renewal of Trident.

But despite the extent of the opposition, Blair is still expected to win approval for his controversial plans by relying on the support of a majority of Conservative MPs who favor Britain retaining a nuclear deterrent.

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